Automatic locking device for presses



May 13, 19 24.

P.- E. GELDHOF AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVICE FOR PRESSES Filed Jan. 4. 1921 511M.) oz P Faaqra 621% $3 Gwen W13 Patented May 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,493,521 PATENT OFFICE.

PETER EDUARD GELDHOF, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVICE FOR PRESSES.

Application filed January 4, 1921. Serial No. 484,974.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER EDUARD Gnu)- HOF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Locking Devices for Presses, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to presses and especially to garment presses.

More particularly the invention appertains to locking devices or means, and automatic locking devices applicable to garment presses or other types and classes of presses.

The main object of the invention, with others in View, is to produce a locking means, being preferably automatic in operation, for use in connection with presses and more particularly for use in connection with high powered presses for the purpose of locking closed and holding closed the pressing members during the time the said pressing members are under compacted strain of high pressure, so the press cannot be suddenly released while under high pressure, but can and may only be released after the otential strainand pressure is relieved by s 'ght retraction of one of the pressing parts or members.

The operation of a high powered press of the platen type, or of the garment press type, or in fact any press, usually employs motive power to drive the pressing members or parts together under extreme pressure: and it is a problem more or less to properly provide for the release of the pressure imposed on the platen or pressingparts because if the pressure and strain is suddenly released there is grave danger of some part of the machine being broken due to the tremendous reaction exerted throughout the press as the pressing parts come from under the imposed potential strain.

It is therefore, the purpose of my invention to provide means for dealing with this problem and in doing so, I have produced a lock and a transmission means applicable to presses, and so arranged as to smoothly and safely relieve the initial and potential pressure before the press opens.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 shows an embodiment of my invention in a locking device arranged in combination with a transmisslon mechanism, and both the lock and mechanism being applied to one type of garment press in present day use. In this view the locking device is shown in locked position to positively prevent either the accidental or intentional opening of the press while'the transmission mechanism is applying maximum pressure to the co-operative pressing members of the press.

Figure 2 shows the assembled locking device and power transmission mechanism occupying a changed position, with the transmission mechanism reversed to relieve the pressing members of extreme pressure con tact, and with the locking device in unlocked position so that the press may be safely 0 ened.

A loc ing device constructed in accordcount a combination power transmission and locking means for use with presses.

Referring now more in particular to the drawingsv for a description of one type of press with which my invention may be used, and for a description of one embodiment of the invention, there is shown a press frame 4 on the upperend of which is fulcrumed a press lever 5. The front end of the press lever carries a press head 6 which is raised and lowered as the lever 5 pivots on the fulcrum point 7. A buck or bed 8 is supported on the frame 4 and stands rigidly against the pressing contact and strain exerted by the head 6. In a garment press it is usually practical to provide steam heating and. steam spraying means in the press members 6 and 8 to press garments, but these features are omitted from the present disclosure. toggle-linkage, comprising links 9 and 1.0 pivotally joined together on a fulcrum pin 11, is supported on a bearing pin 12 carried in the rear end of the press lever.

A lifting member 14, constructed in the form of a cam-follower, is pivoted at 15 in the press frame; and the lower end of the a "mil toggle 910 is preferably made forked to straddle this lifting cam-follower 14, and is connected thereto by a pin 16. A hearing 17 is confined in the bifurcated liftlng cam-follower, and a cam 18 is secured in the bearing. A power shaft 19 is anchored to cam 18 and adapted to revolve the cam in the bearing 17 to swing the lever 14 up and down through a short radial movement. The shaft 19 is forcibly rotated by a motor or other appropriate power means not shown. A foot treadle 20 is pivoted in the press frame and preferably upon or concentric with the power shaft 19, and protrudes from the front of the press so an operator may readily depress the treadle with his foot. An adjustable contact screw 13 is screwed into a lug or projection ma'de in-- tegral with the foot treadle and has certain uses later explained. A toggle-linkage,

. comprising the link parts 21 and 22, has

itsfront link 'pivotally secured to the frame 4 and its rear end pivotally attached to the toggle 910. An adjustable connecting link 23 is attached to the toggle 2122 and treadle 20 to form a working relation between these part-s. A spring 26 has one end secured to the press frame and the other end secured to one of the toggles to exert a pull on said toggle thus causing it to break or collapse to facilitate the opening of the press.

A release or trip pedal 24 is pivoted on a pin 25 fixed to the frame wlth the forward end of the pedal protruding forwardly from the press, and arranged adjacent the treadle 20 so the operator may depress the pedal to unlock the machine after the pressing operation is completed.

A locking lever or stop-device 29 is pivoted on a pin fixed to the frame, and the lower end of this locking lever is preferably provided with an adjustable contact screw 31. A rod or link 32 is slidably confined within an opening made in the upper end of the locking lever 29, and acompression spring 33 is carried on the rod between the locking leverand rod head 34. A nut or shoulder 35 is carried by the rod in contact with the locking lever, and the lever is therefore confined between the nut and the spring in such a way that the rod 32 is capable of slight relative movement with the locking lever. An upright arm 37 is attached and made a part of the camfollower 14, and the rear end of the link 32 is pivotally connected with this arm so that the rocking motion of the part 14 moves the link 32 and thereby rocks the locking lever 29, and in fact moves the lower end of the locking lever forwardly into line with the release pedal 24 so said release pedal may not function but will be locked against an upward movement.

In the operation of the machine, the press eats? lever 5 is rocked up and down to raise and lower the pressing head 6 by applying pressure on the treadle 20; and also the operator may facilitate the opening and closing of the press by pulling down on a handle usually fastened on the press head, and then adds considerable pressure by applying his weight to the treadle 20 which straightens both toggle linkages to squeeze the press ing members together. At this phase of the operation the power shaft 19 rotates to force the straightened toggle 9-10 upwardly which exerts additional and extreme pressure on the head 6 against the buck 8.

The back end of the trip pedal is weighted or made somewhat heavier than the front end of the pedal so that the back end will stand tilted downwardly out of contact with the other parts as shown in Figure 2. This release pedal, when lifted up, engages the foot treadle 20, or in fact engages the adjustable screw 13 on the treadle; and if sufi'icient pressure is brought to bear downwardly on the front end of the release pedal by the operator, the foot treadle 20 is thrust upwardly to collapse or break the toggles whereby the press is opened by lifting the press head 6.

The compacted pressure and strain is so great that danger exists in working the release pedal 24 when the cam 18 is in its uppermost position, as shown in Figure 1,

for if the press should be suddenly opened by depressing the front of the trip pedal 24 during this period of operation, the sudden re-action through relief of the strain would cause damage to the machine if not actual breakage of some parts. When the power shaft 19 rotates to drive the cam 18 and cam-lever 14 upwardly, the arm 37 moves rearwardly, which brings the locking lever 29 into line with and against the release pedal 24; and this action of the parts positively prevents the release pedal being worked to release the press while it is under extreme pressure.

The operation of the press is such that the power shaft 19 continues to turn until the cam-follower 14 is moved downwardly to a lower position, as shown in Figure 2, whereupon the locking lever 29 is moved back away from the end of the release pedal 24 which allows the operator to press downwardly on this pedal whereby the treadle 20 is pushed upwardly to break the straightened position of the toggles 2122 and 910, and immediately the spring 26 exerts a pull on the toggle system to rock the press lever 5' and lift the pressing head 6 high above the bed 8 to make room for the quick placement of a garment upon the bed.

In Figure 1, the release pedal 24 is shown out of its natural position considering the fact that the operator does not have his foot thereon, but the arrow pointing downwardly against the release pedalindicates suflicient imposed pressure to show contact between the release pedal and the treadle 20. lVhen the operators foot is oil the release pedal, it always assumes the position as shown in Figure 2. This simple device protects high powered presses from the danger of sudden release when under extreme pressure and strain.

Though I have described and shown a specific construction of pressing machine, power transmission, and automatic locking device in order to clearly portray my invention, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited thereto, for some modifications may indeed be readily made Without departing from the scope and intent of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A pressing machine of the type having co-operative pressing members, apress lever arranged to raise and lower one of the pressing members, a toggle attached to the press lever and adapted to rock the lever to open and close the press, a cam-follower connectpress a locking lever arranged to engage and c isengage the trip pedal, and a connection made between the locking lever and cam-follower to cause the locking lever to automatically function.

2. A pressing machine embodying co-operative pressing members movable one in relation to the other, toggles arranged to close the pressing members, a foot treadle to 0perate the toggles, a cam-follower having connection with a toggle to produce high pressure, a manually operated kick-off footpedal to open the press, a two-armed locking lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one end adapted to lock against the kick-off pedal, and a connection made between the other end of the locking lever and cam-follower to operate the locking lever. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand on the 29 day of Dec., 1920.

P. EDUARD GELDHOF. 

